Too Late to be a CRNA?

Dear fellow CRNA's,
I became an RN at age 26. I'm turning 28 years old this year. I am highly interested in becoming a CRNA. But I have some doubts of going into this specialty because (1) sacrificing an income while studying full-time for the program (2) ability to pass boards, considering I have poor test-taking skills!
(3) current age.
By the time I get 2 years of ICU experience, I will be 30 yrs. old. Upon graduating from a CRNA program, I will be around 33 years old. Do you think I will be too "old" to be a CRNA?
Was hoping to hear from current CRNA's on what kinds of sacrifices were made to get into this specialty and advice on how to successfully graduate from such a rigorous program?

I'm nearing 32 years old with three small children and I have over a year of nursing school before I get my BSN. After I graduate, I plan on getting into critical care and then I'm off to applying to a couple of different schools to become a CRNA. I know of people that are both older and younger than I am now that completed the master's program and all are happy with his or her choice. If you want to do it then run with it!

Jan 14, '07

Occupation: Teacher
Joined: Jan '07; Posts: 46; Likes: 2

i am changing careers now. i just turned 32, so i won't be able to start a program until 35ish. so i say go for it.

dear fellow crna's,
i became an rn at age 26. i'm turning 28 years old this year. i am highly interested in becoming a crna. but i have some doubts of going into this specialty because (1) sacrificing an income while studying full-time for the program (2) ability to pass boards, considering i have poor test-taking skills!
(3) current age.
by the time i get 2 years of icu experience, i will be 30 yrs. old. upon graduating from a crna program, i will be around 33 years old. do you think i will be too "old" to be a crna?
was hoping to hear from current crna's on what kinds of sacrifices were made to get into this specialty and advice on how to successfully graduate from such a rigorous program?

thank you very much for your time and efforts in helping me out!

take care

Jan 14, '07

Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 2,604; Likes: 3,900

I am about to turn 29 this saturday and will be finishing up my ADN (decided I wanted to play paramedic first). Anyway I am planning on becomming a CRNA eventually and will probably be 30 something when I get my BSN and enough hospital critical care experience... so not to worry you are still young enough to move forward. My theory is it is never to late to continue your education and further you career until you are taking a dirt nap.

Swtooth

Jan 14, '07

Joined: May '06; Posts: 202; Likes: 115

28! You're a youngin! Go for it.

While you're getting your ICU experience you can be simultaneously taking the CRNA pre-reqs such as physics and advanced chem that you may not have now. You could work three 12's a week and that should leave you enough time to take one hard science class per semester.

I'm not sure about the CRNA programs but w/ my NP program I can work and attend school half time. That works best for me money wise and work experience wise.

You will regret it if you don't at least give yourself the opportunity to follow your dreams. As for how to get through such a tough program....take out loans! Seriously, for my undergrad I had such big loans that there was no way in he** that I wasn't going to graduate. I owed the money whether I had a degree or not so I was gettin that degree!

I'm no CRNA either, but I took core courses in graduate school with CRNA students. There might have been one in the group as young as 33, but one only out of 8 or so. The rest were quite "seasoned." They did great- a very sharp bunch of people!

Jan 14, '07

Joined: Jan '07; Posts: 58

I'm 24 soon to be 25 and my dream is to be a CRNA,so I will be in my 30's by the time I finish.You can never dream too big,just do it...Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

Jan 15, '07

Joined: Jul '05; Posts: 5,197; Likes: 6,226

[QUOTE=pumpkie;2017886]Dear fellow CRNA's,
I became an RN at age 26. I'm turning 28 years old this year. I am highly interested in becoming a CRNA. But I have some doubts of going into this specialty because (1) sacrificing an income while studying full-time for the program (2) ability to pass boards, considering I have poor test-taking skills!
(3) current age.
By the time I get 2 years of ICU experience, I will be 30 yrs. old. Upon graduating from a CRNA program, I will be around 33 years old. Do you think I will be too "old" to be a CRNA?
Was hoping to hear from current CRNA's on what kinds of sacrifices were made to get into this specialty and advice on how to successfully graduate from such a rigorous program?

Thank you very much for your time and efforts in helping me out!

I will turn 35 this year, and I will start CRNA school in June. I chose not to sacrifice income while going to school and went the military route instead of civilian nurse anesthesia school.

Good Luck!

Jan 15, '07

Joined: May '04; Posts: 13; Likes: 1

The average age of a CRNA in current practice is 49 y.o.
CRNA's under age 30 are < 5% of all CRNA's.
10% of CRNA's are > 65 y.o.
3 of my classmates are in their 40's.
No, you're not too old.
Besides 50 is the new 30. So I guess 30 is the new...well you figure it out.
Anyway Good Luck!

Dear fellow CRNA's,
I became an RN at age 26. I'm turning 28 years old this year. I am highly interested in becoming a CRNA. But I have some doubts of going into this specialty because (1) sacrificing an income while studying full-time for the program (2) ability to pass boards, considering I have poor test-taking skills!
(3) current age.
By the time I get 2 years of ICU experience, I will be 30 yrs. old. Upon graduating from a CRNA program, I will be around 33 years old. Do you think I will be too "old" to be a CRNA?
Was hoping to hear from current CRNA's on what kinds of sacrifices were made to get into this specialty and advice on how to successfully graduate from such a rigorous program?

Thank you very much for your time and efforts in helping me out!

Take care

I'm 27 and I'm the youngest person in my class. Most people are in their 30's, some are in their 40's, and we even have some in their 50's. Look at it like this: if you're blessed enough to be alive in your thirties, you can either have what you want, or not have it. Far as I know, you only get to live once.